ABSTRACT
China is India’s biggest neighbor and the most powerful country in its direct neighborhood. India–China bilateral relations are expected to intensify in the coming years because both countries have realized that the simultaneous reemergence of India and China offers great opportunities for their own development and for establishing a new international order different from the US-dominated one. Therefore, it is important for the Indian government to develop an effective strategy in dealing with China. However, due to the historical burdens, India’s China policy has long been dominated by suspicion and mistrust and been criticized as lacking strategic vision. What are India’s domestic debates on China, and how can India’s interests be achieved through its relationship with China? This chapter will focus on India’s policy towards China. It will examine this from three aspects: India’s foreign policy decision making, India’s foreign policy strategy and India’s perception of China.
